Disk drive gimbal having a stable pitch static attitude and related method of manufacture

Abstract

A gimbal, a disk drive suspension that includes the gimbal, and a related method of manufacture, wherein the gimbal is configured to be coupled between a disk drive slider and a disk drive load beam. The gimbal includes a strut having a buss and a projection that is coupled to the buss. A combination of the projection and the buss define a gap.

1. A gimbal that is configured to be coupled between a disk drive slider and a disk drive load beam, the gimbal comprising:
 a stainless steel gimbal spring arm, the spring arm flexibly supporting a gimbal tongue; 
 a circuit assembly disposed laterally from the spring arm; and
 a stainless steel supporting arm coupled to a bottom surface of the circuit assembly, the supporting arm being spaced apart from the spring arm by a gap; 
 wherein the circuit assembly has coupled to its bottom surface a plurality of stainless steel segments, the segments being electrically isolated from each other, one of the segments being electrically connected to the spring arm through the supporting arm. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The gimbal of  claim 1  wherein the supporting arm extends generally parallel to an adjacent portion of the spring arm. 
     
     
       3. The gimbal of  claim 1  wherein the supporting arm extends from a distal end of the gimbal. 
     
     
       4. The gimbal of  claim 1  wherein the supporting arm extends from a proximal end of the gimbal. 
     
     
       5. The gimbal of  claim 1  wherein the circuit assembly includes an insulating layer and a conducting layer, and the stainless steel segments are located on a side of the insulating layer opposite the conductive layer. 
     
     
       6. A gimbal that is configured to be coupled between a disk drive slider and a disk drive load beam, the gimbal comprising:
 a stainless steel gimbal spring arm, the spring arm flexibly supporting a gimbal tongue; 
 a circuit assembly disposed laterally from the spring arm; and
 a stainless steel supporting arm coupled to a bottom surface of the circuit assembly, the supporting arm being spaced apart from the spring arm by a gap having a width that ranges in value from approximately 50 μm to approximately 150 μm, a length that ranges in value from approximately 300 μm to approximately 1,000 μm, and a height that ranges in value from approximately 15 μm to approximately 25 μm. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The gimbal of  claim 6  wherein the supporting arm is connected to a stainless steel segment underneath the flexible circuit at a location at which the flexible circuit is unsupported, the stainless steel segment being wider than the supporting arm. 
     
     
       8. A gimbal that is configured to be coupled between a disk drive slider and a disk drive load beam, the gimbal comprising:
 a stainless steel gimbal spring arm, the spring arm flexibly supporting a gimbal tongue; 
 a circuit assembly disposed laterally from the spring arm, the circuit assembly including an insulating layer, a conducting layer coupled to the insulating layer, and an overlayer comprising urethane disposed on a side of the conducting layer opposite the insulating layer; and
 a stainless steel supporting arm coupled to a bottom surface of the circuit assembly, the supporting arm being spaced apart from the spring arm by a gap. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The gimbal of  claim 8  wherein the conducting layer comprises pure copper. 
     
     
       10. A gimbal that is configured to be coupled between a disk drive slider and a disk drive load beam, the gimbal comprising:
 a stainless steel gimbal spring arm, the spring arm flexibly supporting a gimbal tongue;
 a circuit assembly disposed laterally from the spring arm; 
 wherein: 
 
 the gimbal spring arm includes:
 a first portion that has a first width; 
 a second portion that has a second width; and 
 a third portion that is coupled between the first portion and the second portion, and has a third width; and 
 
 the third width is less than the first width or the second width. 
 
     
     
       11. The gimbal of  claim 10  wherein the circuit assembly has coupled thereto a plurality of stainless steel segments, the segments being electrically isolated from each other and electrically isolated from the spring arm. 
     
     
       12. The gimbal of  claim 10  wherein the gimbal spring arm has an edge that defines a plurality of notches. 
     
     
       13. A suspension including the gimbal of  claim 10 . 
     
     
       14. A gimbal that is configured to be coupled between a disk drive slider and a disk drive load beam, the gimbal comprising:
 a stainless steel gimbal spring arm, the spring arm flexibly supporting a gimbal tongue; and 
 a circuit assembly disposed laterally from the spring arm; and 
 
       wherein the circuit assembly has coupled thereto a plurality of stainless steel segments, the segments being electrically isolated from the spring arm; and 
       wherein the gimbal spring arm includes:
 a first portion that has a first width; 
 a second portion that has a second width; and 
 a third portion that is coupled between the first portion and the second portion, and has a third width; and 
 the third width is less than the first width or the second width. 
 
     
     
       15. The gimbal of  claim 14  wherein the segments are electrically isolated from each other. 
     
     
       16. The gimbal of  claim 14  further comprising a stainless steel supporting arm coupled to a bottom surface of the circuit assembly, the supporting arm being spaced apart from the spring arm by a gap. 
     
     
       17. The gimbal of  claim 16  wherein the supporting arm extends generally parallel to an adjacent portion of the spring arm. 
     
     
       18. The gimbal of  claim 16  wherein the supporting arm extends from a distal end of the gimbal. 
     
     
       19. The gimbal of  claim 16  wherein the supporting arm extends from a proximal end of the gimbal. 
     
     
       20. The gimbal of  claim 14  wherein the gimbal spring arm has an edge that defines a plurality of notches. 
     
     
       21. A suspension including the gimbal of  claim 14 . 
     
     
       22. A disk drive including the gimbal of  claim 14 .